Featured 2006 Convention Artist: Jason Vieaux

Jason VieauxJason VieauxJason Vieaux is expanding the definition of "Classical Guitarist" and changing the face of guitar programming, building a solid audience and fan base along the way. His ever-growing reputation for putting his expressive gifts and virtuosity at the service of the music earns him an active schedule of solo, chamber and concerto appearances around the US and abroad. Highlights of the 2006-2007 season include debuts with Ft. Worth Symphony and Iris Chamber Orchestra, a return engagement for the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society series, and solo recitals for The Lied Center, The Ramsi P. Tick Concert Series in Buffalo, and Vancouver's Music in the Mornings series. In addition to several appearances at international guitar festivals in the US, Mexico and Europe, Mr. Vieaux has recently performed on major series in such halls as the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, Cleveland's Severance Hall, Spivey Hall, and New York's 92 St. Y and Merkin Hall.

Jason Vieaux has eight recordings to his credit and many more to come with his multi-record deal with Azica Records. His latest release, Images of Metheny, is a disc of music by American Jazz guitarist/composer Pat Metheny. Metheny, after listening to this landmark recording, declared: "I am flattered to be included in Jason's musical world. And I am honored that a musician of his stature has directed his considerable talents to manifest such beautiful and true renditions of these pieces in such a personal way." Sevilla: The Music of Isaac Albeniz, was rated one of the Top Ten Classical CDs of 2003 by The Philadelphia Inquirer and Cleveland’s Plain Dealer. Mr. Vieaux recorded his first CD when he was just 19; two years later this was followed by Laureate Series Guitar Recital on Naxos, which went on to sell over 40,000 copies internationally. Vieaux also has two duo CDs with flutist Gary Schocker, Dream Travels and Arioso. Mr. Vieaux's recordings and live performances are heard nationally on the radio and worldwide via the Internet, and he is regularly broadcast via NPR, on such top-rated programs as "Performance Today", "All Things Considered" and "Morning Edition". A solo CD of Bach lute works is scheduled for a fall 2007 release.

Jason Vieaux began guitar studies at age eight with Jeremy Sparks in Buffalo, New York, and continued study at The Cleveland Institute of Music with John Holmquist. He is the youngest First Prize winner in the history of the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America International Competition, a Naumburg International Guitar Competition prizewinner, and a recipient of The Cleveland Institute of Music's Alumni Achievement Award. In 1995, Mr. Vieaux was honored as an Artistic Ambassador of the United States to Southeast Asia, concertizing in Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar (Burma). He has also toured Europe, Mexico, Canada, the Far East, Australia and New Zealand.

Mr. Vieaux is a regularly featured guest with orchestras across the United States. He has performed as concerto soloist with the Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland Pops, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, the Auckland Philharmonia, Santa Fe Symphony and San Diego Symphony, working with such conductors as Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Luis Biava, Jahja Ling, Rossen Milanov, Stefan Sanderling, Gareth Morrell, Steven Smith and Carl Topilow. As a passionate advocate of new music, Vieaux has premièred new pieces by José Luis Merlin, Eric Sessler, Arthur Hernandez, Gary Schocker and Fazil Say, and plays works by Allen Krantz, Mario Davidovsky, Augusta Read-Thomas, Roberto Sierra and John Corigliano.

Aside from his duties as a performer, Mr. Vieaux is highly dedicated to the art of teaching. He currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio, where he is Head of the Cleveland Institute of Music Guitar Department, making him the youngest Department Head to serve at the prestigious conservatory. He is also affiliated with Philadelphia-based Astral Artistic Services.


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